Biography

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At 34 years old, blues artist Jose Ramirez has played with some of the biggest names in the blues industry. These artists include Buddy Guy, Anson Funderburgh, Janiva Magness, Mark Hummel, Bryan Lee and Mike Wheeler, to name a few.
Jose is also the first Latin American Blues artist to sign with Delmark. During the historical sessions that took place in the summer of 2021 at Delmark Records Riverside Studio, Jose received blessings from 93-year-old Jimmy Johnson and 90-year-old Bob Stroger, two of the most well-respected elders of the blues world. Those sessions with the Delmark All-Star Band confirmed that Jose is a 100% Major League Blues player. Witnesses of this session were moved to tears listening to the young Costa Rican trading electrifying phrases with the one and only Jimmy Johnson playing the last recording session of his amazing life. The album presents eight original songs and two classic tunes by masters of Chicago blues, Magic Sam and Eddie Taylor.

1 MAJOR LEAGUE BLUES (4:18) with special guest JIMMY
JOHNSON (JOSE RAMIREZ)
2 I SAW IT COMING (6:58) (JOSE RAMIREZ)
3 BAD BOY (4:20) (EDDIE TAYLOR)
4 MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (6:50) (SAMUEL MAGHETT)
5 WHATEVER SHE WANTS (4:08) (JOSE RAMIREZ / SHELLY BONET)
6 HERE IN THE DELTA (5:20) (JOSE RAMIREZ / SHELLY BONET)
7 FORBIDDEN FUNK (3:33) (JOSE RAMIREZ)
8 ARE WE REALLY DIFFERENT (5:54)
(JOSE RAMIREZ / SHELLY BONET)
9 GOTTA LET YOU GO (5:44) (JOSE RAMIREZ)
10 AFTER ALL THIS TIME (4:45) (JOSE RAMIREZ)

JOSE RAMIREZ Guitar & Vocals

TRACKS 1-4: THE DELMARK ALL-STAR BAND
(Recorded August 23, 2021)
BOB STROGER Bass
WILLIE “THE TOUCH” HAYES Drums
ROOSEVELT PURIFOY Hammond B3 Organ
BILLY FLYNN Guitar
SPECIAL GUEST:
JIMMY JOHNSON Guitar on “Major League Blues”

TRACKS 5-10
(Recorded September 1-8, 2020)
ANTONIO REYES Drums (Tracks 5-10), Bass on Latin outro on Track 8
KENNY WATSON JR Bass
ANDRE REYES JR Keyboards
EVAN HOFFMAN Latin percussion on Track 8
SHELLY BONET Outro vocals on Track 10

ALBUM PRODUCTION AND SUPERVISION BY Julia A. Miller and Elbio Barilari
TRACKS 1-4 produced by Elbio Barilari, recorded and engineered by Julia A. Miller,
mixed by Elbio Barilari & Julia A. Miller at Delmark Records Riverside Studio.
TRACKS 5-9 produced by Jose Ramirez, co-Produced by Joe Pinkston & Billy Seals, engineered & mixed by Joe Pinkston & Billy Seals, recorded and mixed at Purple Ridge.
ALL TRACKS MASTERED BY Julia A. Miller at Delmark Records Riverside Studio COVER PHOTO: Ron Van Varik / popfotograaf.nl
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kate Moss / Moonshine Design

CATALOG NUMBER: DELMARK 872 CD UPC: 038153087227
CD RELEASE DATE: MARCH 4, 2022